Writing on Behalf of a Christian Empire

This article examines the political and historical circumstances in which Philip II decided to send his ambassadors to the king of China and the function and significance of Philip's letters to the king. It focuses on the ways in which the Spanish monarch uses the art of dissimulation as effective statecraft in pursuit of political, commercial, and evangelical interests in China. The essay argues that the Prudent King's application of the dissimulation principle to a deferential tone follows the recommendations of Pedro de Ribadeneyra's treatise on Christian kingship. Beneath the deferential rhetoric, one can recognize the same sort of Christian superiority and political ambition that are evident in earlier documents, mainly Charles V's letter in 1543 and the Requerimiento . Interweaving pragmatic prudence with Christian superiority, the Prudent King's letters epitomize the prevailing ambivalence that defines a large body of European writings on China during the period

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · China · Empire · Political science · Politics · Classics · Early Modern Spanish Literature · Historical Influence and Diplomacy · History · Law · Philippine History and Culture

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